Angelonia plant named ‘Balangwitim’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Angelonia  plant named ‘Balangwitim’ characterized by its medium-sized white-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and upright mounded growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Angeloniaangustifolia.

Variety denomination: ‘Balangwitim’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAngelonia plant botanically known as Angelonia angustifolia andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balangwitim’.

The new cultivar was developed by the inventor in a controlled breedingprogram during February 2002, at Arroyo Grande, Calif. The objective ofthe breeding program was the development of Angelonia cultivars withfreely branching and vigorous growth habits, unique flower colors, andcontinuous flowering.

The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar was the proprietaryAngelonia angustifolia breeding selection identified as BFP-524, notpatented, characterized by its pink-colored flowers and mediumgreen-colored foliage. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar wasthe proprietary Angelonia angustifolia breeding selection identified asBFP-642, not patented, characterized by its pink-colored flowers, darkgreen-colored foliage, and large flowers. The new cultivar wasdiscovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plantwithin the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during January2003 in a controlled environment at Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings takensince January 2003 at West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the newcultivar reproduces true to type with all the characteristics, as hereindescribed, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations ofsuch asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguished ‘Balangwitim’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Angelonia plant:

-   -   1. Medium-sized white-colored flowers.    -   2. Dark green-colored foliage.    -   3. Upright mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in flower color and foliage color and from plants of the maleparent primarily in flower size and flower color.

‘Balangwitim’ is similar to the Angelonia cultivar Balangloud, U.S.Plant Pat. No. 15,306. However, in side-by-side comparisons, carried outat West Chicago, Ill., plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of‘Balangloud’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of ‘Balangwitim’ are shorter than plants of        ‘Balangloud’.    -   2. The flowers of ‘Balangwitim’ are smaller than the flowers of        ‘Balangloud’.    -   3. The flowers of ‘Balangwitim’ have a darker green-colored        throat than the flowers of ‘Balangloud’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describe the colors of ‘Balangwitim’. Theplants were grown in 10 cm pots for 14 weeks in a greenhouse at WestChicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balangwitim’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of‘Balangwitim’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2001 edition, except where color terms of ordinary significance areused. The color values were determined on Aug. 9, 2004 at West Chicago,Ill. The readings were taken between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. under naturallight conditions.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a doublepolycarbonate-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to thoseused in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill.in 10 cm pots for 14 weeks while utilizing a soilless growth medium.Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 75°-85° F.(24°-29° C.) during the day and approximately 62°-70° F. (17°-21° C.)during the night. Greenhouse light levels were maintained atapproximately 6,000 to 10,000 footcandles during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Angelonia angustifolia, cultivar    Balangwitim.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female (seed) parent.—Proprietary Angelonia angustifolia            breeding selection identified as BFP-524, not patented.        -   Male (pollen) parent.—Proprietary Angelonia angustifolia            breeding selection identified BFP-642, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 9 days.        -   Time to develop roots.—Approximately 21 to 28 days.        -   Root description.—Fine and fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Crop time.—Approximately 6 to 7 weeks from a rooted cutting.        -   Habit of growth.—Moderately vigorous with good branching.        -   Form.—Upright mounded.        -   Size.—Height (from soil level to top of plant plane):            Approximately 31 cm. Diameter (area of spread):            Approximately 59 cm.        -   Main branch.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 4. Shape:            Tetrahedral. Strength: Moderate. Length from soil level to            base of raceme: Approximately 25 cm. Diameter: Approximately            4 mm. Color: 144B. Texture: Glabrous. Internode length at            middle of branch: Approximately 2.8 cm.        -   Foliage.—Quantity: Approximately 10 per branch. Fragrance:            None. Type: Simple. Arrangement: Opposite. Orientation to            stem: Acute/at right angle. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute.            Base: Sessile. Margin: Serrate. Length of leaf taken from            middle of branch: Approximately 5.8 cm. Leaf width:            Approximately 1.1 cm. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color of            upper and lower surfaces of young and mature foliage:            Slightly lighter than 147A with venation of N144D. Color of            lower surface of young and mature foliage: Slightly lighter            than 147A with venation of N144D. Texture of upper and lower            surfaces: Glabrous.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balangwitim’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual bloom.—Approximately 7 to 10 days.        -   Inflorescence type/description.—Terminal racemes. Length            from base of lowest fully open flower to tip branch: 18 cm.            Width: 4 cm. Number per plant: Approximately 6 open racemes            per plant. Number of fully open flowers per raceme at any            one time: Approximately 15.-   Flower description:    -   -   Type/fragrance.—Solitary, bi-labiate, self-cleaning. Flowers            have a slightly sweet fragrance.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3-4 days for buds to            progress from first color to fully open flowers. Shape:            Spherical. Length: Approximately 7.5 mm. Diameter:            Approximately 7 mm. Color: Closest to 1D. Texture: Glabrous.        -   Flower size/aspect.—Length: Approximately 1.8 cm. Width:            Approximately 1.6 cm. Depth: Approximately 1 cm. Aspect:            Facing outward.        -   Petals.—Quantity: Five per flower, fused at base forming a            throat, an upper lip having two petals and a lower lip            having three petals.        -   Upper lip.—Petal shape: Obovate. Petal apex: Obtuse. Petal            margin: Entire. Length of petal: 7 mm. Width of petal: 8 mm.            Color of upper surface: Closest to 155B. Color of lower            surface: Closest to 155B. Petal texture: Glabrous at margin,            densely glandular at base. Gland color: Translucent.        -   Lower lip.—Petal shape: Obovate. Petal apex: Obtuse. Petal            margin: Entire. Length of petal: 9.0 mm. Width of petal:            8.0 mm. Color of upper surface of lateral petals: Closest to            155B. Color of lower surface of lateral petals: 155B. Color            of upper surface of central petal: Closest to 155B with            palate of N144C and teeth of 155C. Color of lower surface of            central petal: 155B. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous at            margin, densely glandular at base. Gland color: Translucent.        -   Throat.—Length: Approximately 5 mm. Width: Approximately            6 mm. Depth: Approximately 3 mm. Color of inner surface:            155C with 145A at proximal end. Color of outer surface: 155C            with 150C at proximal end. Texture of inner surface:            Glabrous. Texture of outer surface: Glabrous, pubescent at            rim.        -   Pedicel.—Strength: Good. Length: Approximately 1.3 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 0.6 mm. Angle to stem: Acute. Color:            N144C. Texture: Glabrous.        -   Calyx.—Shape: Cup, formed by 5 sepals fused at base. Length:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Width at base: Approximately 1.5 mm.            Width at apex: Approximately 3.5 mm. Sepal quantity: 5.            Sepal shape: Ovate. Sepal apex: Acuminate. Sepal margin:            Entire. Sepal length: Approximately 4 mm. Sepal width:            Approximately 1.1 mm. Sepal color: Both surfaces: N144A.            Sepal texture: Upper and lower surface: Glabrous.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: Four per            flower. Stamen length: Approximately 3 mm. Filament color:            155C. Anther length: 1 mm. Anther color: 155C. Amount of            pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: 4D. Gynoecium: Pistil            quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: 4 mm. Stigma            length: 0.5 mm. Stigma color: Colorless and translucent.            Style length: 2.5 mm. Style color: 155C. Ovary diameter:            1 mm. Ovary color: N144D.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Angelonia has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Angelonia plant named ‘Balangwitim’,substantially as herein shown and described.